Street Tech

The portable audio news just keeps coming. First, the BBC reported that Sony is still struggling to keep its long-languishing MiniDisc format relevant, this time with its new “Hi-MD” players (pictured right) and media, which store 1GB of music (which they claim equates to 45 hours of music at 48Kbps — does ATRAC really sound decent at 48Kbps? I doubt it) or data (so you can use it as a portable hard drive). Interesting.

Also today, Forbes reported on HP’s announcement that it has licenced Apple’s iPod “technology” as well as iTunes Music Store for their own line of portable music players. It will be interesting to see whether HP actually comes up with compelling features for their iPod-alike or if they’re just starting an idea-recycling recycling operation. Maybe HP will be able to hit the low-end sweet spot that some (this editor included) think Apple completely missed with their recently-unveiled MiniPods.

Thanks to Slashdot for these juicy newsbits.

The New York Times has a review of Microsoft’s SPOT technology that largely agrees with my assessment that it is useless technology likely to fail horribly:

“…the Microsoft Smart Watch is, to put it bluntly, for gadget freaks. It’s for early adopters, guys who love “because it’s there” technology, people whose pupils dilate at the mention of the word “wireless.” Others are likely to give these watches the backs of their hands – and not in the way Microsoft is hoping.”

While I agree with almost everything in Times article, I can’t agree with that last bit — this isn’t even for gadget freaks and early adopters. SPOT is for nimwits too unfamiliar with Microsoft to know that as soon as it becomes apparent that this is not a profitable market MS will drop support and leave poor Suunto and Fossil, and anyone who sprung for these ugly $100–$200 watches, twisting in the wind.

Thomson (and subsidiary RCA) has stepped up the full-scale barrage of gadgets, announcing everything from a new DLP High Definition TV that is so thin it can mounted on the wall (though common for plasma screens, this is a significant improvement for the higher-quality DLPs) to complete redesigns of several of their MP3 players.

The new DLP, similar to the one we profiled last month, measures just 7″ thick and comes in 50″, 60″ and a forthcoming whopping 70″ models. Prices are expected to range upwards of $10,000.

On the downside, Thomson’s proudly announced its new set-top boxes and TVs will include High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) with HDCP copy protection, and will integrate “broadcast flag” recognition, which is a copyright protection scheme encouraged by big media companies to limit recording and distribution of programs

Thomson also introduced five new or revised MP3 players. The Lyra jukeboxes have gotten a little slimmer (like most of us want to after x-mas), though they are still among the thickest on the market at an inch. The new Lyra’s do add an FM receiver and MP3 recording capabilities, vastly increasing their utility. An enhanced file management and navigation system is also expected. The 40 gig Lyra will cost $450 and the 20 gig will go for $350.

A revised Micro Jukebox MP3 player will sport a 2 gig HD and also has an FM radio and recording features, and will cost just $230. Schedule for release “this summer,” I expect it will have a 4 gig drive for the same price by that time.

A few tiny flash MP3 players have also been released with less than stellar specs: 128 megs for $150, 256 megs for $200, both with FM tuners. Can it be, have they not heard? Flash is dead!

I’m not exactly sure that I can explain the phenomenon, but there seems to be a growing trend of collectible USB widgets that aren’t all that useful but are interesting desktop decorations and conversation pieces. Among these is the aroma pot ($35) that hooks to the USB port and provides a small heated pool in which to place essential oils and fragrances. Other devices, like a USB back massager, fan, air purifier and even an air-cleaning ashtray are available from Brando.

If you’re torn between all the new MP3 player selections that have come out in the last few days, you’re not alone. To add to the confusion, iRiver has announced the iHP-140, a predictable 40 gig update to their 20 gig player. The new 40 gig model is essentially the same as the 20 gig, though it is a little thicker. Like its smaller sibling, the 40 gig model has one of the best feature sets of any MP3 player around: support for the Ogg Vorbis format, line-in or mic recording direct to .wav or MP3 formats, text reader, optical input/output, wired remote with LCD, 16 hour battery life, and internal FM radio. And it shows up as an external hard-drive on any PC for easy and fast USB 2.0 transfers. Likely price is $400, dropping the price of the 20 gig to $300.

Via SlashDot:

“Along with a selection of other goodies, Apple also unveiled their XGrid clustering technology from their advanced computation group today. XGrid can turn a number of networked Macs into a supercomputer, detects nodes automagically via Rendezvous, and can run in or out of a screensaver mode. You can download a technology demo (including a BLAST test app) here.”

Steve Jobs presented the keynote speech as usual this year at the MacWorld expo, presenting a wide variety of new things available for the Mac system and even a few for Windows users. The most significant announcements were about a music creation application called Garage Band, included in iLife suite, and the announcement of the Mini iPod. For those who missed the webcast, read the full highlights below…

Flash-based MP3 players are dead, and the nail in the coffin is this Rio Nitrus 4 GB MP3 player. It specs out exactly like the old 2.5 GB version released last summer (USB 2.0, 16 hour battery life, yada yada) but with an introductory price of just $250.

With the price of 4 gig mini players down at $200 street within a month, 1.5 and 2 gig models are sure to hover between $100 and $150 after the dust settles. Then comes the 10 gig mini player, and the cycle continues… will it ever end? What madness!

Here’s the thought that must have gone through somebody’s head at Zap Electric Vehicles: “Hmm. The Segway costs $5000 mostly because of this complex system of gyros that keep it upright, when the same thing could be achieved by adding a third wheel taken from shopping cart. I bet we could build something almost as cool for less than half the price….” Well, it looks like they were right.

The Zap Q is nearly identical in profile to Kamen’s Segway but does away with the complicated electronics that put the price out of the reach of most folks. The Q has a range of about 20 miles and runs at about 10 mph, making it about almost as fast as a Segway but with almost twice the range. And it adds a couple more features, such as a headlight, running lights and horn for bettery safety, a fold-up handlebar and a 6mph reverse mode. While it may not have the caché of a Segway, see how much caché you have when you ride one around while wearing the Purple Label suits you’d be able to afford with the savings. Price is just $1800.

PS: If you’re unconvinced by this “pretender” it may come as good news that the Segway has been reduced in price to just $4500.